Replacing aging equipment after two decades of operation will significantly reduce the facility’s environmental footprint.
A first phase of modernization has already been completed, with the construction and commissioning in 2024 of a new chilled water production station, funded through the France Relance plan. This station supplies the different water networks that cool the electron accelerator and beamline equipment, as well as the air conditioning systems in buildings onsite. It thus contributes to the excellent beam stability on the beamlines, highly valued by our users. This new station also enables an 80% reduction in potable water consumption. Furthermore, it will eventually be connected to the Paris-Saclay district heating and cooling network, helping to heat 1,000 housing units on the urban campus and the aquatic center in the town of Gif-sur-Yvette.
Cooling circuits in the new chilled water production plant, more reliable and environmentally friendly (funded by the France Relance Plan).
Gradual modernization of equipment used for accelerating electrons (RF amplifiers) has begun and will continue until 2027 to respond to requirements of SOLEIL II. In addition to improved performance and reliability, this upgrade will result in electricity savings of 1.25 GWh/year. In addition, SOLEIL II’s new accelerators will be built with the objective of rational resource use. The use of permanent magnets, recycled, if possible, in place of energy-intensive electromagnets will result in a drastic reduction (up to 50 percent) in electricity consumption. These goals of rationalization and economization will extend to exotic fluids, such as liquid helium, by using closed circuits tominimize losses of these valuable resources.
Finally, tools for conducting experiments remotely will be offered, whenever possible and desirable, on all beamlines, which will contribute to a reduced carbon footprint for user travel.
SOLEIL carried out a greenhouse gas emissions assessment concerning its activities in 2022 and 2023. Effective measures to reduce our carbon footprint will be taken based on regular monitoring of this assessment.